"We can probably still make 60 more cups of milk tea before we close!"
"Everyone, estimate your position in line. If you're too far back, you might want to leave first."
"Before leaving, you can scan the QR code to get a free 50% discount coupon, valid for one week!"
"..."
At the milk tea shop's entrance, even though it was almost 3 a.m., there was still a long line.
When the staff maintaining order announced that closing time was near, the people towards the back of the line stirred a bit.
However, since they wouldn't make it to the front, it was pointless to continue waiting. They could just scan the code, get the coupon, and come back in the morning.
After all, they were late themselves...
But for those who were just there to soak in the atmosphere and snap a pic, the milk tea shop offered a special service—
"For those just here to take a photo, we could provide empty cups for your photo ops~"
"We also have dedicated photographers to take your pictures! And free photo editing too~"
"..."
The milk tea business is still a service industry; while it can't be perfect, it strives to be the best it can be.
After all, those who queued but didn't get any milk tea are still customers...
Thanks to the coordination between staff maintaining order and the photographers, those who didn't get milk tea weren't too disgruntled.
They just took their coupons and planned to come back earlier the next day.
As for why there were no older folks in line at this hour...
The older folks had lined up much earlier and were well asleep by this time.
...
Very soon, it was 3 a.m., and closing time for the day.
Finally free, Lin Hao shook his hands and stretched a bit.
Even though he wasn't too physically tired, making milk tea for seven to eight hours is as tiring as alchemy for seven to eight hours.
Or perhaps making milk tea is a bit more exhausting, since alchemy only requires focus.
In a busy shop like this, Lin Hao also had to look after the customers' emotional needs...
But as a Cultivator, he could handle this much hardship.
He quietly took out a lower-grade Spirit Stone from his Storage Bag and began absorbing its Spiritual Power.
Once his Magical Power was replenished and his Divine Thought stabilized, Lin Hao made a "Magical Power Boost" special drink for the boss and fellow staff before leaving...
Of course, he took a cab when leaving.
Taking a cab ensured he could get back to the City Management Team sooner, reducing his time wandering outside.
He would prefer not to encounter the Room of Cannibalism or any other supernatural threats possibly lurking in the city...
At any rate, while in the cab, he summoned a White Impermanence Avatar to follow behind, just for that sense of security.
...
At the entrance of the City Management Team.
"Thank you, driver."
Lin Hao got out of the taxi and entered the office area of the City Management Team.
As Lin Hao was about to head back to the accommodations, someone stopped him.
It was Yadan who stopped him.
"Lin Hao, sorry to bother you so late, but could you make some more milk tea? There's an internal debrief tonight, and the higher-ups want something refreshing...
The equipment is there, just let us know what ingredients you need and we'll prepare them."
"Why this late at night? Is there a troublesome supernatural incident?"
"It's good news! The problem with the room with the compass has been completely resolved! We need to conduct a recap right away to prevent similar incidents in the future. The milk tea costs tonight will be paid at twice the market rate."
"No problem."
Even though it was late already, Lin Hao wasn't sleepy.
And making milk tea at the City Management Team meant he could fully utilize his power.
The efficiency of making milk tea would be much higher.
...
Inside the City Management Team.
Meeting Room 101.
Leaders from the direct departments of the City Management Team attended this meeting.
This meeting focused mainly on the impacts of the Room of Cannibalism, divided into four segments.
The first segment—
Leader's Speech!
"Since it's already late, I'll make this brief..."
An hour later.
"In this period, all of you have done incredibly hard work! But regarding this incident, let us invite the Corpse Interpreter from the Investigation Team to give a brief report."
Good, we finally entered the second segment—
Initial investigation report on the Room of Cannibalism!
Amidst applause, a young man with entirely white hair stepped forward, holding a thick stack of reports in one hand and sipping milk tea from a cup in the other.
Upon reaching the podium, he opened...
A PowerPoint presentation.
The title was—
"Summary and Analysis of Information Left by the Dead in the Room of Cannibalism"
"Hello everyone, I'm the Corpse Interpreter."
"My ability is Corpse Reading. As my ability has evolved, I can now read information from the belongings of the deceased, in addition to the corpses themselves."
"Based on the information left behind after the Room of Cannibalism's spatial collapse, I've made a report."
"As it's already late, I'll be brief..."
"Firstly, please raise your phones and scan this QR code. The information I've obtained is compiled into this written report, which you can receive just by scanning—paperless office, you know."
"I won't read it out. There's an audio version attached to the link for you to listen to the report at your convenience."
The Corpse Interpreter flipped to the first page of the PowerPoint, revealing a big QR code.
He shook the thick report, indicating that the electronic and printed versions were the same.
In the audience, whether from the Combat Team, Exploration Team, Investigation Team, Strategy Team, Logistics Team, or other departments, everyone with a smartphone raised it and activated the scan function.
For a moment, the hall was filled with the sound of scanning...
"Alright, most of you have scanned it. For those who haven't, I'll post the QR code in the workgroup chat for you to check out yourself."
"I'll talk about the second point now."
"Through reading the deceased's belongings, this Room of Cannibalism incident was man-made, most likely orchestrated by our old friends—the Extraordinary Universal School."
"I've investigated as far as I can. The rest is up to all of you."
With that, the Corpse Interpreter clicked to the second page of the PowerPoint—
"Thank you all for listening, looking forward to our next exchange."
Including the title, the PowerPoint had only three pages.
Such cursed formality!
The entire report took less than two minutes.
After bowing to the audience, the Corpse Interpreter, holding his report and milk tea, walked towards his seat under everyone's gaze...
He walked past his seat...
And went to the conference room's door.
Opening the door...
He noticed everyone watching him; he tucked the report under his arm and with his free left hand, gestured a heart—
"My work here is done, I'm off to sleep. Keep up the good work, everyone!"
With that, he left, disregarding the audience's stares.
Click.
After the door closed, the room was briefly silent.
"Ahem."
On the podium, the City Management Team's captain coughed to regain attention and began:
"Next, members of the Investigation Team need to specifically track based on the Corpse Interpreter's report.
Combat Team and Exploration Team members, work together in Ke Chen City to root out the Extraordinary Universal School's bases, and if they resist, eliminate them."
The Logistics Team should ensure logistical support."
After summarizing the second topic, the meeting entered the third segment—
Evaluating the possibility of recruiting White Impermanence into the City Management Team!!!